Incident at 8700 Broadway December 31, 2007 - Charges are pending against a suspect who assaulted a Houston police officer and was then wounded by the officer at 8700 Broadway about 1:10 a.m. today (Dec. 31). The male suspect, whose identity has not been verified, sustained one gunshot wound and was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital. The officer, Richard Martinez, was in his uniform, off-duty, and working an extra job as a security officer at the apartment complex where the incident occurred. Officer Martinez, 27, assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division, was sworn in as an HPD officer in January 2006. He was not seriously hurt. HPD Homicide Division Sergeants M. McStravick, J. Rubio and Officer J. Robles reported: While patrolling the parking lot of the Broadway Square Apartments, Officer Martinez noticed a female crying for help while inside a vehicle. The female told the officer she had been raped by a male with her inside the vehicle. When Officer Martinez attempted to take the male into custody, the two got into a physical altercation before the male fled on foot. The male knocked Officer Martinez to the ground and attempted to strike Officer Martinez with the officer’s flashlight. Officer Martinez, fearing he would be seriously injured and that his life was in danger, managed to produce his service weapon and fire one shot at the suspect. Sometime during the altercation, the female apparently fled the vehicle and has not been located at this time. Investigators are asking that the woman contact the Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide a statement. As is customary in officer-involved shooting incidents in the city limits, the incident is being investigated by the HPD Homicide and Internal Affairs Divisions and the Harris County District Attorney’s office. JFC/VHS 12-31-07 For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200. |